Sunflower County Transitional Homeless Shelter

SCMACS READIES PROGRAM AS TRANSITIONAL SHELTER ALMOST COMPLETE 

By BRYAN DAVIS - THE ENTERPRISE-TOCSIN

“This is a vision that God gave to me and my wife six years ago, and we have been working on this program for about four years,” McGee told The Enterprise-Tocsin this week, as he and other members of the Sunflower County Ministerial Alliance &Counseling Services walked through the nearly complete center, which will be operated by SCMACS on behalf of the county.There were times when it did not seem a transitional or homeless shelter was in the cards for the county.But all of that changed in the last 24 months when the county board of supervisors got behind the project.Even then, though, there were hurdles.The original bid to build the structure, which is located next to the Sunflower County Jail, came in way above budget, which put a halt to construction.That was when District 31 Rep. Otis Anthony stepped in and secured a legislative appropriation to help the county bring this vision to life.“I feel great,” said Mary McGee on Tuesday. “It’s finally coming together.”The building may have been opened earlier this month except the board decided to write a change order allowing contractor David Smith Construction to install flooring throughout the facility. Most of it was going to be a concrete floor.

 McGee likes the look of the facility, but he is anxious to get started with this ministry.“Speaking for myself, I’m well-pleased,” he said, as he looked around the building this week.For years, churches and others have been serving the homeless in Sunflower County through a patchwork system, which mostly involved them paying to house people in area hotels.“Some of the churches have been putting people up out at the motel,” McGee said.“Once the building opens, they can send the people to us and then we will determine whether they will be able to come in. There could be some situations where they won’t be able to come into the building right now, and we will in turn put them up at the motel until we can get them to where they need to get to be in position to be inthe shelter.”McGee said that SCMACS is far from being able to treat people with substance abuse issues, as well as individuals with severe mental illness.That is why the organization has partnered with a number of agencies, he said, that are ready to take referrals of clients who may not qualify to stay in the facility yet.McGee said that there is a local nurse who is on board with the center, as well as asocial worker.Food will be provided, in large part, by way of an annual donation of $25,000 from Swift Current Energy, parent company of Harvest Gold Solar. That donation is good for five years, he said.Meanwhile, McGee is hoping that more area churches will jump on board with donations once they see the program up and running.“This is not just a SCMACS problem or project,” he said. “This is a city and county project, so we invite all churches. We are going to need support from all of the churches.”Rev. Edward Thomas, a SMACS member, said that the center is a great opportunity for area churches to band together to help the homeless population.“I think this will be great for all of churches,” he said.

McGee said that in dealing with the homeless, he realizes that there will be issues.That is why, he said, the center will enforce a strict set of guidelines for those in transition.“In order for this program to be successful, there has to be strict rules and regulations,” he said. “People have to know that they have to abide by those regulations. We have to have control over who comes in. We don’t want a client to be a liability. We want the people who are working here to feel safe and we want the people who are staying here…to feel safe.”Ultimately, McGee said the pathway to building a sustainable shelter and program lies with the one who gave him the vision to begin with several years ago.“The success will depend on God,” McGee said. “He has the final say. We are being led by the Spirit.”